Agricultural auxiliary tillage implement control

Abstract

An agricultural tillage implement includes a main section including a hitch extending in a travel direction, a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with the main section, at least one auxiliary implement assembly coupled to each of the wing sections and a control system. Each auxiliary implement assembly includes at least one support member, at least one pivotal arm pivotally coupled to the support member, at least one actuator coupled to both the support member and the pivotal arm and a ground contacting implement coupled to the pivotal arm. The control system is configured to actuate the actuators to control a position of each ground contacting implement in each of the sections when the agricultural implement is transitioning to a transport mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a position of ground contacting portions of auxiliary implement assemblies carried by an agricultural implement, the method comprising:
 providing the agricultural implement which includes a main section including a pull hitch extending in a travel direction and a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with said main section, each section having a fore and aft portion; 
 providing at least one auxiliary implement assembly connected to the aft portion of the main section and each of said plurality of foldable wing sections, the at least one auxiliary implement assembly extending aft of its respective main section and foldable wing section and including at least one support member, at least one pivotal arm pivotally coupled to said support member, at least one actuator coupled to both said support member and said pivotal arm, and a ground contacting portion coupled to said pivotal arm; 
 operably connecting a control system including a controller to each actuator; and 
 independently actuating each actuator via the control system to control a position of each ground contacting portion of the at least one auxiliary implement assembly of the main section and each foldable wing section as the main section and each of the plurality of foldable wing sections of the agricultural implement is transitioning to a transport mode from a field mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said independently actuating step includes actuating the actuators to position the ground contacting portion of the auxiliary implement assembly in a non-interfering position relative to a ground contacting portion of the auxiliary implement assembly of an adjacent foldable wing section as the agricultural implement is being transitioned from the field mode into the transport mode. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the actuators are independently extendable and retractable under direction of said control system, the actuators being positioned to thereby substantially raise the ground contacting implement during the transitioning from the field mode to the transport mode.